Europe’s largest economy. But their economy is also starting to show some signs of

decline, and there are fears that this could lead to a recession. So what impact is this

dip having on Germany? And how powerful is the country overall?

Well, the short answer is they are very powerful, with some potentially growing

weaknesses. For one thing, German may have to cut back on their military. They

currently have the world’s 7th strongest military force, employing 183,000 active

troops. That’s behind other European countries like France and the UK, and quite a

ways behind the USA and China, but it’s still a sizable amount. They’re also at

the

forefront of developing military technology. The problem is that maintaining this military

and developing new technology is an expensive endeavor that Germany may not

be able to afford. According to a recent leaked report, “Only one of [Germany’s] four

submarines is operational” and “just seven of the German Navy’s fleet of 43 helicopters

are flightworthy.”

They’ve also had problems with broken down aircrafts. This recently stopped troops

from returning home from Afghanistan and hindered the nation’s effort to join the fight

against both ISIS and Ebola. German defense minister Ursula von der Leyen has admitted

that the country’s military is facing equipment shortages so severe

that it cannot meet its NATO commitments, which could be a serious blow to their status

in Europe.

So, why is the largest economy in the EU unable to afford something as simple as

vehicle repairs?

Well, their economic growth has slowed for a number of reasons. They have

Europe’s most ambitious renewable energy plan, which has yet to offer any clear

financial returns. They’ve also had slower export growth in China than expected, and

are unable to continue their normal trade with Russia because of sanctions. Germany

is

reportedly losing over $100 million euros this year alone, due to a now-canceled arms

deal with Russia.

Despite all of that, Germany’s economy is still strong and they have enormous

political power. They’re a founding member of the EU, a contributing member of NATO,

and they’re extremely active in the United Nations. So, even if Germany were to find

itself in a recession, it would still maintain its political place as the leading power in

Europe. It would just have to tighten its belt a bit, to stay there financially.

If you'd like to know more about the power that other countries have, like India or North Korea,

go check out our The Strength of Nations Playlist

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